BOLD, BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL

Objectification of Black Girls Bodies in Schools

Aisha D. Smith, LMSW

EXPECTATIONS ADAPTED FROM THE PEOPLES INST ITUTE FOR SURV IVAL AND BEYOND

• When speaking please make statements in the “I” – “I feel…I think”

• Respect; without imposing value based judgment and labelling others

• Give Space and Take Space

• What's Learned Here, Leaves Here

• Brave Space

REALMS OF KNOWING ADAPTED FROM THE PEOPLES INST ITUTE FOR SURV IVAL AND BEYOND

• There are things that we know we know

• There is what you know you don't know (tend to operate between realms 1 & 2)

• There are things that we think we know and we are wrong

• There is what we don't know what we don't know--coming into context with the unknown (can possibly be threatening, have to be able to continue checking in when we feel uncomfortable)

• There are things that we know intuitively that we don't know

PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES

• 1. Attendees will be able to conceptualize the historical context of policed bodies, and their impact in educational settings.

• 2. Attendees will able to recall and differentiate the varied levels of objectification against black bodies.

• 3. Attendees will be able to recognize systemic and educational tools; as they target and criminalize women of color.

• 4. Attendees will recognize new tools, and skills for validating the experiences of women of color.

• 5.Attendees will utilize intersectional theory as a means of advocacy, and as means to assist in navigating systems of change.

• 6. Attendees will plan, and create environments that will facilitate conditions to shift conversations in diversity and inclusion in educational settings.

BOLD , BRAVE & BEAUTIFUL QUESTIONNAIRE

• Please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire.

• Are there any thoughts, concerns or insights following the completion of the questionnaire?

DOES YOUR SETTING UTILIZE THE FOLLOWING TERMS?

• Low performing

• High poverty

• Priority School

• Urban youth

• Rewards School

• Mission Driven

• Focus School

• Are there any additional terms used to describe the setting?

OBJECTIFICATION

• Merriam Webster: • Objectify - to treat as an

object or cause to have objective reality

• “They believe that beauty pageants objectify women”

• OBJECTIVITY CAN BE

OPPRESSIVE

DRESS CODES

• Policies on Dress Codes

- Informs and regulates expectations for students appearance and presentation

- Can serve as a “tool” to demonstrate excessive control and power dynamics

- Diminishes individuality

- Largely targets young girls who are considered more “developed”

- Is not inclusive or tolerable of cultural presentations outside of the norm

CONSEQUENCES OF BLACK FEMININITY

• Black women’s experiences are criminalized, and seen as secondary, due to the constant comparison to white women’s experiences and white femininity. This is an issue that surfaces due to institutional racism seen in school settings.

• This leads to the marginalization and subjugation of black women’s experiences with education. This often leads to the criminalization of black bodies in schools.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

• Policies on Discipline

- Gender based

- Shame Based

- Divisive

- Harsher punishments

- Direct pipeline to prisons

ARE FOLKS FAMILIAR WITH THESE HEADLINES?

- “The McKinney, Texas pool party: More proof that ‘black children don’t get to be children’ - “Video Shows Cop Body-Slamming High School Girl in S.C. Classroom”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/06/10/the-mckinney-texas-pool-party-more-proof-that-black-children-dont-get-to-be-children/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0579d7dd6c4f

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/video-appears-show-cop-body-slamming-student-s-c-classroom-n45189 \

WHAT ABOUT THESE HEADLINES?

• “Teacher Pulls Off Student's Hijab at Fairfax County High School”

• “Vanessa VanDyke Could Be Expelled After Having Her Hair Mocked”

• Instances like these are targeted at young women across the black, brown and yellow spectrum.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/26/vanessa-vandyke-expelled_n_4345326.html

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Student-Teacher-Ripped-Hijab-Off-My-Head-at-School-458071843.html

OUR NATIONS HISTORY

• Rooted and deeply engrained in our nations history, are the standards of white, heteronormative, patriarchal influences.

• This includes ideals on beauty standards, body posture, speech, clothing and personal expression.

• Check out those Dates!

YOUR ROLE AS A SOCIAL WORKER

“OWN YOUR SH*T”

Start working on you first.

MAKING MEANING

• Adding context and providing support is the start of shifting perspectives

• Listen with the intent of “listening” and not responding

• Taking the time to be a “teacher”

• Engaging the student to become an change agent

• Exploring cultural humility, not only cultural competency

WHY SELF ADVOCACY IS NEEDED

Self expression is essential to self development. Imagine the impact of

telling an individual how their lives will be affected by their physical

appearance.

This becomes a larger issue when an individual is reprimanded.

VALIDATING AND HONORING YOUR

STUDENT

This experience not only validates the students experience and

perspective, its provides a moment of understanding. This is an

empathetic gesture, cultivating a genuine relationship.

IMPORTANCE OF REPRESENTATION

“POWER AT ITS BEST IS LOVE IMPLEMENTING THE DEMANDS OF

JUSTICE”

Martin Luther King Jr.